The Wassail is a traditional ceremony that sees apple trees blessed with cider and awoken from their winter slumber.

By creating as much noise as possible with pots, pans and sticks, Wassailers ward away the evil spirits from the orchards, all to ensure a fantastic apple harvest – and cider – the coming year.

The Thatchers Wassail was led by the Green Man, Isobel our Wassail Queen, and the Mendip Morris.

Martin Thatcher was one of the revellers. He said, “The Wassail ceremony is a tradition that makes up an important part of our cidermaking year and reminds us it’s not long till Spring when the blossom will start appearing on the trees.”